Stage I Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage II Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage III Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage IV Oropharyngeal Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of stage I oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Surgery.
• A clinical trial of fractionated radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I oropharyngeal cancer ¹.

Treatment of stage II oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Radiation therapy (external radiation therapy and/or internal radiation therapy).
• Surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II oropharyngeal cancer ².

Treatment of stage III oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Surgery followed by radiation therapy or by chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy (for patients with tongue or tonsil cancer).
• Chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy followed by surgery or radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of fractionated and/or internal radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III oropharyngeal cancer ³.

Treatment of stage IV oropharyngeal cancer that can be treated by surgery may include the following:

• Surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy (for tonsil cancer).
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of fractionated and/or internal radiation therapy.

Treatment of stage IV oropharyngeal cancer that cannot be treated by surgery may include the following:

• Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with radiation therapy and/or radiosensitization.
• A clinical trial of fractionated and/or internal radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperthermia therapy with radiation therapy.

Following treatment, it is important to have careful head and neck examinations to look for recurrence. Check-ups will be done monthly in the first year, every 2 months in the second year, every 3 months in the third year, and every 6 months thereafter.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV oropharyngeal cancer ⁴.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.

Dividing the total dose of radiation therapy into several smaller, equal doses delivered over a period of several days.

A type of treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs.

A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, radiation brachytherapy, and implant radiation therapy.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

The use of a drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrent cancer.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Cancer that is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread outside the oropharynx.

Cancer that is larger than 2 centimeters, but not larger than 4 centimeters, and has not spread outside the oropharynx.

Cancer that is either (1) larger than 4 centimeters and has not spread outside the oropharynx; or (2) any size and has spread to only one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the cancer, and the lymph node with cancer is 3 centimeters or smaller.

Stage IV oropharyngeal cancer is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, the cancer either: (1) has spread to tissues near the oropharynx, including the voice box, roof of the mouth, lower jaw, muscle of the tongue, or central muscles of the jaw, and may have spread to one or more nearby lymph nodes, none larger than 6 centimeters; OR (2) is any size and has spread to one lymph node that is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters on the same side of the neck as the cancer, or to more than one lymph node, none larger than 6 centimeters, on one or both sides of the neck. In stage IVB, the cancer either: (1) surrounds the main artery in the neck or has spread to bones in the jaw or skull, to muscle in the side of the jaw, or to the upper part of the throat behind the nose, and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes; OR (2) has spread to a lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters and may have spread to tissues around the oropharynx. In stage IVC, cancer has spread to other parts of the body; the tumor may be any size and may have spread to lymph nodes.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

One of two small masses of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat.